BINTULU, Sarawak—Pickleball will hit secondary-school timetables across Jepak and surrounding areas starting next year, state assemblyman Iskandar Turkee announced at the weekend launch of the new OGC Pickleball Court.
“From next year, this program will be extended to secondary schools so more students can participate actively,” Iskandar told guests after cutting the ribbon on the blue-green acrylic surface in Bintulu. He called the expansion “a strategic step to unearth young talent and nurture sporting spirit from school age.”
Three-part Pickleball Rollout
Saturday’s ceremony introduced a trio of linked initiatives - Let’s Play Pickleball Grass-Roots Program, OGC Pickleball Court, and the OGC Pickleball Championship 2025 – the first-ever nationwide pickleball tournament to be held in Bintulu, Sarawak.
Iskandar thanked OGC Group and its partners for backing the project. “Sport is a highly effective form of informal education,” he said. “We want our children not only to excel academically, but also to be active, disciplined, and competitive through participation in sports such as pickleball.”
Pickleball Community Focus
The assemblyman expressed hope that youths in Bintulu and Jepak would fully utilize the new court at the Kemena Industrial Estate on Jalan Kemena. The OGC Pickleball Court is open daily with their soft opening rates starting at RM 25 per hr.
Blending elements of tennis, badminton, and table tennis, pickleball’s accessible gameplay and low-cost equipment make it ideal for students. Its introduction into schools highlights the sport’s growing momentum in Malaysia and the wider pickleball Asia (https://www.pickle.asia)movement.
Building the Next Generation of Athletes
With school rollouts planned for 2026 and the upcoming OGC Pickleball Championship, Sarawak is setting a strong example for grassroots sports development. This initiative doesn’t just promote physical activity, it builds community and leadership through sport.
As Malaysia invests in youth participation and infrastructure, Sarawak’s efforts mark another important step in expanding pickleball in Asia (https://www.pickle.asia) from local courts to international aspirations.
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